Regina Pats were a hit with the fans

Game 5 of the Regina Pats-Swift Current Broncos playoff series included more aggression than a United Airlines flight.

The Pats frequently initiated contact as they outlasted the Broncos 3-2 on Friday to reduce Swift Current’s lead to 3-2 in a best-of-seven WHL Eastern Conference semi-final.

“I don’t know if you can tell, but we’re playing p—ed off, right?” Pats defenceman/steamroller Connor Hobbs said as 6,484 spectators filed out of the Brandt Centre.

“We’re playing angry and we’re in a corner, so we’re going to do anything in our power to come out victorious. That’s partially why we won tonight.”

There were, as Hobbs pointed out, other reasons why the Pats prevailed.

Sam Steel was, well, Sam Steel. In fact, his entire line — also consisting of Dawson Leedahl and Nick Henry — was a factor.

So was Pats goaltender Tyler Brown, whose performance was crucial in light of the well-established stinginess of his opposite number, Jordan Papirny.

Wyatt Sloboshan, playing centre between Austin Wagner and Filip Ahl with injured captain Adam Brooks dressing but not playing, was especially effective while killing penalties.

The crowd — one of the loudest during the Pats’ 40 years at the Brandt Centre — must have provided some energy to a John Paddock-coached home side that needed every possible boost against a determined Swift Current side.

The Pats’ robust style gave their fans every reason to be involved in what was a must-win game for the CHL’s top-ranked team.

Leedahl administered his nightly cruncher, sending Lane Pederson flying into the boards. Hobbs, a guided missile throughout the game, levelled three Broncos with thunderous hits in addition to being a force on offence.

“I think when I play physical it’s a little bit intimidating for the other team,” Hobbs said. “They know when I’m on the ice. John said it to me and to our team — I don’t know if he said it to you guys (in the media) — that big hits are slowly coming out of the game and they’re not needed as much. But I think that if I do it clean and I do it with the right timing, it just helps us. I’ve just got to be smart with it.”

Smart, and a little surly — given Hobbs’ earlier comment about being (peeved) off. Was the attitude simply a product of being down 3-1 in a series?

“Sure, that’s part of it,” Hobbs responded. “It’s not what we expected and not what we wanted. Nobody wants to be down 3-1 in a series. It’s just that little bit of extra juice.

It paid off with an all-expenses-paid trip to Swift Current for Saturday’s Game 6, for which the Pats’ blueprint will likely mirror that of Friday.

“We’ve just got to do that again and come out bumping and hitting and try to do it as clean as possible,” Hobbs said. “Physicality is huge for us, so we’ve got to use that.”

The Pats also used the electricity provided by the fans, who were revved up during the pre-game program and rarely relented during the game.

“It was pretty special,” Steel said. “Whenever you can get that kind of support, it gives you that extra boost.”

The Regina supporters, traditionally a taciturn group, were especially vocal after Wagner was undeservedly issued a major penalty (and an automatic game misconduct) for kneeing at 8:52 of the third period. The fans made their vehement objections known during the ensuing power play, booing whenever Swift Current began a rush.

“Every time they touched the puck, it was kind of like, ‘Whoa. They haven’t been this loud all year,’ ” Hobbs marvelled. “It was huge for us. The crowd was unbelievable and we used that. They helped us out. Hopefully lots of Pats fans will come (to Swift Current) tomorrow night.”

Swift Current was able to score once during the five-minute advantage, but could not provide the equalizer. So now the Pats are one victory away from tying the series.

Opportunism has been a key for Swift Current, which has registered all three of its victories in overtime. Over the five games, one of which was decided in triple overtime, the Broncos have played with the lead for only eight minutes 59 seconds (including 2:30 on Friday). Regina, by contrast, has been ahead for 169:31.

“It’s playoff hockey,” Hobbs said matter-of-factly when asked if his team deserves a better fate. “Things don’t always work out exactly how you want it to and how you planned.

“I guess you could say we’re taking the hard way. If any team can do it, it’s us, so I feel confident.”

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